Robert Assaf told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that he was "young and immature" when allegedly using fake invoices [1].
The testimony highlights potential gaps in the understanding of political donation laws within New South Wales and the methods used to circumvent them. This investigation seeks to determine if systemic deception was used to influence political funding.
Assaf appeared as a witness to address his role in activities involving the creation of fraudulent invoices [1]. During the proceedings, he faced questions regarding the legality of these documents and the intent behind their use in the context of political contributions.
Assaf said he “did not understand political donation laws” at the time of the alleged events [1]. His testimony suggests a lack of legal literacy rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive the commission or the public.
The proceedings focused on whether the use of fake invoices was a common practice or an isolated incident involving a few individuals. Assaf's descriptions of his younger self served as a defense against allegations of calculated dishonesty [1].
Legal representatives for the commission continued to probe the timeline of these activities to verify if the witness's lack of understanding was plausible. The inquiry remains focused on the flow of money, and the legitimacy of the documentation used to track political donations in NSW [1].
“"young and immature"”
This testimony underscores the difficulty ICAC faces in establishing criminal intent when witnesses claim ignorance of complex regulatory frameworks. If the commission accepts that the witness was simply immature or uninformed, it may shift the focus of the investigation toward those who supervised or directed the activities, rather than the individuals executing the paperwork.
